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.169175.1

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 70

48

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Phil A. Griego

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT STUDY SCHOOL

CLOSURE POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

WHEREAS, local school boards have discretionary power to

close local schools without regard to any criteria set forth by

state law; and

WHEREAS, local school boards have discretionary power to

close local schools and sell the buildings with no obligation

to make them available for use as charter schools, even if

there is substantial and continuing support for such an effort

in the neighborhoods affected; and

WHEREAS, parents, teachers and other stakeholders in a

school district have a vested interest in the board members

whom they elect to office; and

WHEREAS, local schools boards should be required to look

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.169175.1

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at and consider heavily the following question: If this school

did not exist, would this community be attempting to create

it.; and

WHEREAS, parents, teachers and other stakeholders in a

school district have a vested interest their neighborhood

schools, which have educated many generations of families and

have been blessed by community fundraising efforts to finance

programs and brick and mortar; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of public

education dollars are expended each year to refurbish, expand

and otherwise repair and upgrade neighborhood schools that

become targets of closure efforts by local school boards; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, local school boards have made

closure decisions that are, or are perceived to be, driven by

political expediency at best or class prejudice at worst; and

WHEREAS, some of the recent closure efforts have been

aimed at some of the most academically successful, recently

renovated and physically expanded schools with the heaviest

parent involvement and support; and

WHEREAS, some of these recent closure issues between

parent groups and their local school boards have raised

concerns over fiscal responsibility, board member ethics and

the methods by which boards initiate closures;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be

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requested to study the process and practices of local school

boards in the state to determine what works and what does not

with regard to local school closures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department come forth with a proposal to address whether

facilities of closed schools should be offered up to charter

school efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department study and recommend options to change laws regarding

the closure of local schools, taking into consideration recent

expenditure of public funds to renovate or expand, parent

support of, academic achievement at and attraction of students

from other areas to such schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department study and recommend changes in law to require that

the facilities of closed schools be provided without charge to

charter schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department report its findings and recommendations to the

interim legislative education study committee no later than

November 1, 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of public education.

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